Tip of the Week: Use an Image and a Thought to Play the Ideal Point

Keep a mental note of the point you would like to play in your head. 

Picture what that point is like-good serve, good crosscourt first shot and a ball hit early from inside the baseline to get the opponent in trouble or win the point.

Remind yourself before the point starts what you want the point to be like, how many hits you would like it to be, and how you would like to finish the point. A good way to do this is to recall a point that you have already played.

Remember where you hit the serve or return, what type of shot came back, and what response you had on the next ball. Things will often repeat themselves but remember that each point is slightly different.

Try to give yourself more of a chance of repeating a good point by reminding yourself just prior to the start of the point, what you have done well!


Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis (http://www.annaconetennis.com). For details on lessons and camps at Sag Harbor Park Tennis and throughout the Hamptons this summer contact sannacone@annaconetennis.com or management@annaconetennis.com

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USTA NTC

January/February 2024 Digital Edition